Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium:

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Smarter Balanced

Assessment Consortium:

Test Administrator User Guide

For the Spring 2014 Field Test Administration

Updated March 25, 2014

Prepared by the American Institutes for Research®

Descriptions of the operation of the Test Delivery System, Test Information Distribution Engine, and related systems are property of the American Institutes for Research® (AIR) and are used with permission of AIR.

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Table of Figures

Figure 1. Portal Button for Field Tests ... 15

Figure 2. TA Interface Button ... 15

Figure 3. Login Screen... 15

Figure 4. Portal Button for Practice and Training Tests ... 16

Figure 5. TA Practice and Training Site Button ... 16

Figure 6. Login Screen... 16

Figure 7. Sample SSO Drop-Down Menu... 17

Figure 8. TA Interface for Field Tests ... 18

Figure 9. TA Interface Banner for Field Tests ... 19

Figure 10. TA Practice and Training Site Banner for Practice and Training Tests ... 19

Figure 11. Quick Search ... 21

Figure 12. Advanced Search ... 21

Figure 13. Sample Alert Message... 22

Figure 14. Sample Past Alert ... 22

Figure 15. Test Selection Box ... 23

Figure 16. Add Test to Session Confirmation Message ... 24

Figure 17. No Students Awaiting Approval ... 25

Figure 18. Students Awaiting Approval ... 25

Figure 19. Approvals and Test Settings Screen ... 26

Figure 20. Approvals and Test Settings for Selected Student ... 27

Figure 21. Approvals and Student Test Settings Screen ... 28

Figure 22. Deny Student from Testing ... 29

Figure 23. Students in Your Test Session Table ... 32

Figure 25. TA Site Banner Containing Stop Session Button ... 35

Figure 26. Sample Item Page ... 37

Figure 27. Sample Global Menu ... 38

Figure 28. Adjusting Volume Setting in the Test ... 38

Figure 29. Overview of Elements for Selected-Response Items ... 39

Figure 30. Sample Context Menu for Item Stem ... 39

Figure 31. Sample Context Menu for Answer Options ... 39

Figure 32. Context Menu on Tablet (for Strikethrough)... 40

Figure 33. Expand Stimulus Icon ... 44

Figure 34. ASL Tool for Items ... 45

Figure 35. Sample Glossary Window Displaying Two Glossaries ... 46

Figure 36. Masking: Preview Area ... 47

Figure 37. Masking: Masked Area ... 47

Figure 38. Print Passage Icon ... 48

Figure 39. Print Item Icon ... 48

Figure 40. Print Request Submitted Message ... 48

Figure 41. TA Interface Print Button ... 48

Figure 42. Print Request Preview (TA Interface) ... 48

Figure 43. Speak Tool Options for Items ... 49

Figure 44. Secure Browser Login Page ... 51

Figure 45. Sample “Is This You?” Screen... 53

Figure 46. Sample “Your Tests” Screen ... 54

Figure 47. Waiting for TA Approval ... 54

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Figure 49. Text-to-Speech Check Page ... 56

Figure 50. Sound Check Page for Tests with Listening Items ... 57

Figure 51. Test Instructions and Help Page ... 58

Figure 52. Sample Item with Flag ... 59

Figure 53. Sample End Segment Screen ... 60

Figure 54. Pause Test Message ... 61

Figure 55. Sample Item Page with End Test Button and Message ... 62

Figure 56. End Test Alert Message ... 62

Figure 57. Sample End Test Review/Submit Page ... 63

Figure 58. Sample Test Submitted Confirmation Screen ... 64

Figure 59. Smarter Balanced ... 66

Figure 60. Smarter Balanced California ... 66

Figure 61. Unable to Establish Connection Message ... 69

Figure 62. TA Interface Button ... 70

Figure 63. Login Screen ... 70

Figure 64. TA Interface for Field Tests ... 70

Figure 65. Select All Tests ... 70

Figure 66. Generate Session ID ... 71

Figure 67. Sample "Your Tests" Screen ... 71

Figure 68. Students Awaiting Approval ... 72

Figure 69. Approvals and Student Test Settings Screen ... 72

Figure 71. Enter Active Test Session ID ... 74

Figure 72. Sample Combined Calculator ... 82

Figure 73. Basic Calculator ... 86

Figure 74. Scientific Calculator ... 87

Figure 75. Graphing Calculator (Default View)... 88

Figure 76. Graphing Calculator: Expressions ... 88

Figure 77. Graphing Calculator: Window View ... 89

Figure 78. Graphing Calculator: Table View ... 89

Figure 79. Graphing Calculator: Graph View ... 90

Figure 80. Regression Calculator ... 91

Figure 81. TA Interface: Sample Math Test Settings for a Student with Braille ... 97

Figure 82. TA Interface: Student Print Request(s) Screen ... 98

Figure 83. Sample File Icons in TA Interface Help Window ... 99

Figure 84. BRF File Dialog Window... 99

Figure 85. Select a Program Window ... 99

Figure 86. Use Selected Program Checkbox ... 99

Figure 87. Duxbury Embosser Setup Window ... 100

Figure 88. Emboss Options Window ... 100

Figure 89. PRN File Dialog Window ... 101

Figure 90. Select a Program Window ... 101

Figure 91. Use Selected Program Checkbox ... 101

Figure 92. Print Current PRN File Window ... 101

Figure 93. Sample Writing Response Field with Available Tools ... 104

Figure 94. Special Characters Window (Updated) ... 105

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Overview of the Test Delivery System

The Smarter Balanced Field Tests are available to participating states, districts, and schools. Students are required to use a secure browser to access the Field Tests for English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics.

The Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Tests allow students and teachers to practice using the testing software prior to participating in the Field Test. Other users may access the Practice and Training Tests site to get a feel for the online testing experience. These tests can be accessed using the secure browser or a supported Web browser.

Systems for the Field Tests and Practice and Training Tests

Administering test sessions requires Test Administrators (TAs) to use a test administration site and students to access a separate student testing site.

Field Test Administration

For the Field Test administration, Test Administrators must use the Test Administrator Interface (TA Interface) to create test sessions and manage students’ online testing progress during the session. Students must use the secure browser to access the Student Testing Site.

Practice and Training Test Administration

To prepare for the Field Test administration, Test Administrators can create test sessions using the TA Practice and Training Site. Students can use the Practice and Training Tests site to practice answering items and navigating through a sample test. Students may use either the secure browser or a supported Web browser to access the Practice and Training Tests.

Key differences between the applications used for the Field Tests and Practice and Training Tests are listed in Table 1.

Note: The term “Test Delivery System” is generally used to refer to the operational and practice and training sites as a whole. For additional information about login options for the Practice and Training Tests, refer to Appendix D, Accessing the Practice and Training Tests. For more information about the Practice and Training Tests, refer to the Practice and Training Test User Guide, which is available on the Smarter Balanced portal in the Practice and Training Tests section.

Table 1. Test Delivery System for Test Administrators and Students Test Administrator

Sites TA Interface (for the Field Tests) TA Practice and Training Site (for the Practice and Training Tests) Description

Test Administrators use this site to

 create test sessions for students to log in to and access their grade-level online tests;

 verify students’ test settings before approving students for testing;

 track each testing student’s progress throughout the test; and

 pause students’ tests.

Test Administrators can use this site to

 create test sessions for students to log in to and access available practice and training tests;

 verify and edit students’ test settings before approving students for testing;

 track each testing student’s progress throughout the test; and

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Student Sites Student Testing Site (Field Tests) Practice and Training Tests Description Used for taking the Field Tests.

Students use this site to

 log in to a created test session and access online tests;

 use tools such as zoom, strikethrough, and highlighting;

 review answers before completing the test (subject to pause and timeout rules); and

 pause a test if a short break is needed.

Used to allow students to become comfortable with the online tests and practice using test tools and settings. Students can use this site to

 log in to a test session (if one is created by a Test Administrator in the TA Practice and Training Site);

 practice answering sample item types that will be available in the online tests;

 practice using test tools;

 learn how to review answers before completing the test (subject to pause and timeout rules); and

 pause a test if a short break is needed.

Access Requires the use of the Field Test secure

browser. Requires the use of the Field Test secure browser or a supported Web browser. Note: Text-to-Speech is available only when using the secure browser. Login Only students can log in to the Student

Testing Site.

Note: Students must log in with their Confirmation Code as it appears in TIDE, State-SSID, and their TA’s Session ID.

Allows guest login. This allows students, teachers, families, and others to see what the Test Delivery System is like and to see sample items.

Also allows students to log in to a test session with their Confirmation Code, State-SSID, and training Session ID. Expiration All Field Tests expire a certain number of

days after they are started:

 Performance Task field tests expire 10 calendar days after they are started.

 All other field tests (Non-PT tests) expire 45 calendar days after they are started or at the end of the test window, whichever comes first. (The test window ends June 6, 2014.) Students may start and resume tests in any test session proctored by a Test Administrator in their associated school.

Practice and Training Test opportunities expire at the end of each day. Thus, students must complete a practice or training test in one day, or they will need to start again from the beginning on another date.

 Students who do not complete a test in one session can resume the test that same day in another session proctored by the same TA.

 Students who logged in to a guest session with their Confirmation Code and State-SSID can resume the test the same day by logging in to another guest session.

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Introduction to This User Guide

This user guide provides information about the Test Delivery System, including the TA and student applications, for the Smarter Balanced Field Test in a series of six sections, as follows. Appendices provide additional information.

This introduction describes the contents of this document and includes a key for identifying icons and elements.

Each section and appendix begins on a new page, which allows for easy printing.

 Section I, General Rules of Online Testing, covers functional rules and limits for online testing.

 Section II, Accessing the Test Administrator Sites, explains how to access and log in to the TA Interface and TA Training Site.

 Section III, Understanding the Test Administrator Sites, describes the overall layout of the TA Interface and highlights the important tasks and functions.

 Section IV, Administering Online Tests, outlines the process for creating test sessions, approving students for testing, and pausing tests.

 Section V, Understanding the Student Testing Site, describes the overall layout of an online test, as well as the functions and tools available to students.

 Section VI, Taking Online Tests (Student View), explains how students log in to a test session, complete a test, and submit the test.

 The Appendices provide additional information about secure browsers, accessing the practice and training sites, keyboard commands students can use when a mouse is not available (for physical keyboards), using the online calculators, and support for braille testing.

Table 2. Key Icons and Elements Icon Description

Warning: This symbol appears with text that contains extremely important information regarding actions that may cause errors.

Caution: This symbol appears with text that contains important information regarding a task. Note: This symbol appears next to text that contains helpful information or reminders.

Text that appears in gray boxes provides instructions relevant to the task described.

 Numbered (ordered) lists provide step-by-step instructions.

 Bulleted lists provide instructions that do not need to be done in a specific order. [Text] Text in brackets is used to indicate a link or button that is clickable.

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Other Resources

Administration manuals and other related documents for administering the Smarter Balanced Field Test are available on the Smarter Balanced portal (http://sbac.portal.airast.org) in the Field Tests section. Resources for the Practice and Training Tests are in the Practice and Training Tests section. Technology requirements are outlined on the Smarter Balanced website’s Technology page. This page contains information about supported hardware and operating systems for accessing the Field Tests and Practice and Training Tests.

The Technical Specifications Manual for Online Testing contains information about installing the secure browser and configuring district and school networks to ensure that students can access the secure Student Testing Site. This document is available on the Smarter Balanced portal.

Resources for California Users

Administration manuals and other related documents for administering the Smarter Balanced Field Test for California are available on the California Smarter Balanced portal.

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Section I. General Rules of Online Testing

Test Administration Policies and Procedures

This user guide does not provide information regarding administrative policies and procedures. Refer to the Online Field Test Administration Manual to find the Directions for Administration and other information on test policies, including how to prepare for online tests. The Online Field Test Administration Manual is available on the Smarter Balanced portal (sbac.portal.airast.org). You will need to read the Directions for Administration to students before they begin their tests.

About Test Settings (Embedded Universal Tools, Designated Supports, and Accommodations)

Students’ test settings must be reviewed prior to starting a test session. Some test settings cannot be changed after a test has been started (see below). A test has started (or resumed) when the student clicks the [Begin Test Now] button on the Test Instructions and Help page (the last login screen that students see).

About Test Settings:

In the Test Delivery System, “test settings” includes embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations, as well as non-embedded designated supports and accommodations. Thus, “test settings” is used throughout this user guide to refer to all embedded and non-embedded universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations, unless otherwise indicated.

Caution: Once any student has started a test and realizes that a required test setting is incorrect or not available (e.g., translation [stacked], text-to-speech, or American Sign Language), the test opportunity may need to be reset (see below). Refer to the Online Field Test Administration Manual and the TIDE User Guide for information about requesting test resets.

A student with incorrect information or test settings should not test until his or her record has been updated in TIDE. For information on viewing test settings in the TA Interface, see Viewing and Editing Students’ Test Settings.

Test Settings that Require a Test Reset:

The following test settings cannot be changed after a test has been started. If any of these settings must be changed, the test must be reset. (Test reset requests must be submitted in TIDE via the appeals process.)

 American Sign Language

 Braille (braille is a language setting)

 Closed Captioning

 Streamlined Interface (the streamlined interface is a test shell setting)

 Translation (stacked) (for mathematics tests only)

Note: Stacked translations are automatically provided when the selected language is Spanish.

 Translation (Glossary) (for mathematics tests only)

Note: The TIDE appeals system will become available on April 1. If between March 25 and March 31, a district or school has an urgent need to submit an appeal in TIDE, please contact the Smarter Balanced Help Desk.

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Basic Test Rules

 Students must answer all test items on a page before going to the next page. Some pages contain multiple items. Students may need to use scroll bars to view all content on a page.

 Students may mark (flag) items for review and use the Questions drop-down list to easily return to those items, provided the test has not been paused for more than 20 minutes (see Pause Rules).

 Students may review previously answered items and change their answers only if the test has not been paused for more than 20 minutes (see the Pause Rules section below for exemptions).

 For tests that contain multiple segments, students may not return to a segment after it has been completed.

Pause Rules

The following pause rules apply regardless of whether the student or the Test Administrator pauses the test or there was a technical issue (e.g., power outage or network failure) that resulted in the student being logged out.

 When students have paused a test, they must log back in to resume testing. Upon resumption, students will automatically be directed to the first page that has an unanswered item. Students’ ability to review previously answered items depends on the test they are taking.

− Non-Performance Task (Non-PT) tests have a 20-minute pause limit rule. − Performance Task (PT) tests do not have a pause limit rule.

 In the event of a technical issue (e.g., power outage or network failure), students’ tests will be paused and the students will be logged out.

Performance Task Tests

ELA Performance Task tests contain two segments. Once the first segment has been completed, the student cannot return to the items or task(s) in that segment. The 20-minute pause limit does not apply to any PT tests.

Non-Performance Task Tests

Students are not permitted to change answers after their test has been paused for more than 20 minutes even if they have marked an item for review. The only exception to this rule is if a student was in the middle of a page containing multiple test items when the test was paused and at least one item on that page had not yet been answered. Students also cannot return to completed segments.

 If a test is paused and the student resumes testing within 20 minutes, the student is − presented with the test item or passage and associated items he or she was working on

when the test was paused or shut down; and

− permitted to answer previously shown items (both answered and unanswered).

 When a test is paused for 20 minutes or more, the student is

− presented with the test page containing the test item(s) he or she was working on when the test was paused (if the page contains at least one unanswered item) OR with the next test page (if all items on the previous test page were answered); and

− NOT permitted to change any previously answered test items (with the exception of items on a page that contain at least one item that was not answered yet).

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14 About Segmented Tests

Segmented tests are tests that contain two or more sections. When students complete a segment, they have an opportunity to review the items in the section just completed before moving on to the next segment. Once a segment is completed, students cannot return to it. The following tests have segments:

 PT tests: All ELA tests contain two segments.

 Non-PT tests:

− All ELA tests contain two segments.

− Mathematics tests contain multiple segments. Some tests contain two segments and others contain four segments. The availability of an online calculator depends on the segment the student is working on at the time.

Test Timeout (Due to Inactivity)

As a security measure, students are automatically logged out after 20 minutes of test inactivity. This timeout also results in the test being paused automatically.

Activity is defined as selecting an answer or navigation option in the test (e.g., clicking [Next] or [Back] or using the Questions drop-down list to navigate to another item). Clicking an empty space on the screen is not considered activity.

Before the system logs the student out of the test, a warning message will be displayed on the screen. If the student does not click [OK] within 30 seconds after this message appears, he or she will be logged out.

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Section II. Accessing the Test Administrator Sites

The Test Administrator sites, including the Test Administrator Interface and the TA Practice and Training Site, are accessed through the Smarter Balanced portal. To log in to either site, you must have an authorized username and password. If you have not yet received an email with your account information from [email protected], contact your District or School Test Coordinator (as applicable).

The process for accessing the TA sites is the same although different paths are taken.

Accessing the TA Interface for the Field Tests

1. Open your Web browser and navigate to the Smarter Balanced portal (http://sbac.portal.airast.org). For California users, navigate to the Smarter Balanced California portal

(http://sbac.portal.airast.org/ca/). 2. Click the blue button for the Field Tests.

Figure 1. Portal Button for Field Tests

3. Click the [TA Interface] button. You will be directed to the Single Sign On login page.

The Single Sign On system allows you to log in to the systems provided by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), including TIDE, the TA Interface, TA Training Site, and Online Reporting System. After logging in, you can switch between systems without having to log in and out of each system.

Figure 2. TA Interface Button

4. Type your username and password in the respective text boxes and click [Log In]. You will be directed to the system you selected.

If you have forgotten your password, refer to the TIDE User Guide for instructions on resetting it.

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Accessing the TA Training Site for the Training Test

1. Open your Web browser and navigate to

the Smarter Balanced portal (http://sbac.portal.airast.org). For California users, navigate to the Smarter Balanced California portal (http://sbac.portal.airast.org/ca/). 2. Click the green button for the Practice

and Training Tests.

Figure 4. Portal Button for Practice and Training Tests

3. Click the [TA Practice and Training Site] button. You will be directed to the Single Sign On login page.

The Single Sign On system allows you to log in to the systems provided by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), including TIDE, the TA Interface, TA Training Site, and Online Reporting System. After logging in, you can switch between systems without having to log in and out of each system.

Figure 5. TA Practice and Training Site Button

4. Type your username and password in the respective text boxes and click [Log In]. You will be directed to the system you selected.

If you have forgotten your password, refer to the TIDE User Guide for instructions on resetting it.

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Switching between Smarter Balanced Systems (Single Sign On System)

The Single Sign On (SSO) system is designed to ease the login process and simplify navigation between Smarter Balanced systems provided by AIR. SSO integrates the following systems:

 Test Information Distribution Engine (TIDE)

 Test Administrator (TA) Interface

 TA Practice and Training Site

 Online Reporting System

Reminder: Access to each system and its features is dependent on the access provided by your user role.

The top left corner of your browser contains a drop-down menu listing the above applications. From this menu, select the application (e.g., TIDE) you want to switch to. You will be directed to the main page for that application and will not have to log in again.

Figure 7. Sample SSO Drop-Down Menu

Warning: Although navigating to another system is easy, it is important to understand how the system operates in order to avoid unintended consequences of switching systems.

If you are using the TA Interface or TA Training Site and you navigate away from it, your session will stop, and all students in the session will be logged out. You cannot resume your session. You will have to create a new session, and your students will have to log in to the new session to resume testing.

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Section III. Understanding the Test Administration Sites

This section applies to the test administration sites for Test Administrators.

 Test Administrators must use the TA Interface to administer the Field Tests.

 Test Administrators must use the TA Practice and Training Site to practice setting up sessions and administering the training tests.

Warning: Do NOT use the Student Testing Site or TA Interface for practice. For all training test sessions, use the TA Practice and Training Site and the Practice and Training Tests.

TA Site Layout

After you log in, you will see the TA Interface (or TA Practice and Training Site). All features and functions are identical between the two, except for the list of available tests.

Figure 8. TA Interface for Field Tests

Essential Tools and Information on Your Screen: 1. Session ID

2. Test Selection table

3. Pending Approvals Notification and Preview table 4. Students In Your Test Session table

Note: The Students in Your Test Session table automatically refreshes every 60 seconds. To manually refresh the page, click the [Refresh Now] button in the header row.

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19 Recognizing the Difference between the TA Sites

The TA Interface and TA Practice and Training Site look almost identical. The primary difference is which tests are available. There is also a visual reminder of which site you are in. The TA Interface will say “Field Tests” and the TA Practice and Training Site will say “Training Test.”

Both sites allow Test Administrators to create test sessions, approve students, and monitor their test progress but the test options (Field Test or Training Test) are different.

Figure 9. TA Interface Banner for Field Tests

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20 TA Site Quick Reference

The following table provides descriptions of the various buttons and features that appear on the TA Site. Table 3. TA Site Features

Sections and Buttons Description Approvals/Pending

Approvals preview section The [Approvals (#)] button and Preview section show how many students are awaiting approval to begin testing. Expand/Collapse Use this button to expand or collapse a specific viewable area of your screen.

This feature can be applied to the area containing the Test Selection and Pending Approvals tables and on-screen instructions section.

Help Click [Help] to access this TA User Guide at any time. A new tab or window will open to the Smarter Balanced Portal Resources and Documentation page. Log Out Click [Log Out] to exit the TA Interface. You will be logged out of all online

Smarter Balanced applications, and all students’ tests will be paused. Print This feature allows you to print the list of approved students and their test

progress as it is displayed on the screen. To print, click the [Print] button. The regular print window will appear. Select the desired settings and click [OK].

Federal law (FERPA) prohibits the release of any student’s personally

identifiable information. Any printouts containing student information must be securely stored and then destroyed when no longer needed.

Refresh Now Use this button to manually refresh your screen while monitoring student progress. (The Students in Your Test Session table automatically refreshes every 60 seconds.)

Session ID The Session ID is used by students to log in to a test session. Session IDs are unique to each test session. The Session ID links the students who are requesting access to the test session to the TA, who then approves or denies their access requests.

Because the Session ID is unique for each test session in the system, it provides an audit trail for students’ tests. The Session ID must be given to students exactly as it appears on your screen (including hyphens).

Start Session After the TA has selected the test from the Test Selection table, the [Start Session] button will become active. Click this button to start the session and create the automatically generated Session ID.

Test Selection Select the test(s) to include in the test session. A test cannot be removed from the session after it has been added. (The TA Interface includes a [Select All] button, which allows users to quickly and easily select all tests.)

Stop Session Click this button to end the session. Any students who are still testing will have their tests paused and they will be logged out. You will not be able to resume the current session, and a new session will need to be created for students to finish testing.

Student Lookup The Student Lookup tool allows TAs to search for students.

 Use Quick Search to look up students by State-SSID.

 Use Advanced Search to find students by district, school, grade, and first/last name.

Students in Test Session

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21 Student Lookup: Quick Search and Advanced Search

If a student is having trouble logging in, you can use the Student Lookup feature to search for that student by State-SSID or first or last name.

Caution: Any incorrect student information in the required demographic fields must be updated in TIDE by an authorized user. After a student’s record is updated in TIDE, he or she can begin testing

Figure 11. Quick Search

1. Click the [Student Lookup] button in the top row of the TA Site. 2. Enter a student’s State-SSID.

3. Click [Submit State-SSID]. If the search results in a match, that student’s information will be displayed.

Figure 12. Advanced Search

1. Click the [Student Lookup] button, and then click the [Advanced Search] tab. a. If necessary, select a district and school from the drop-down lists.

b. Select a specific grade or “all grades.”

c. Optional: Enter a student’s first name and/or last name. Partial names are allowed (e.g., enter “Fi” in the last name field to search for students whose last name begins with “Fi”). 2. Click [Search]. Search results that match the parameters will appear in the second column.

3.

To see more information about a student, click the binoculars icon. A third column showing the

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22 Alert Messages

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) are able to send out alert messages to all Test Administrators. These alerts will be displayed on the TA Interface. To ensure that you have read these messages, you will need to click [OK] to close the alert.

Figure 13. Sample Alert Message

Viewing Past Alerts

A record of alert messages that you have read and acknowledged can be viewed by clicking the Alert Center icon. This appears at the top right corner of the screen, next to the [Log Out] button. Click the icon to open a window that contains alert messages that have not yet expired (each message includes an expiration date).

Figure 14. Sample Past Alert

Printing Session Information

This feature allows TAs to print the screen as it currently appears. Doing so can help track which students did not complete their tests and may need to be scheduled for another test session.

1. To print, click the [Print] button. The computer’s standard/default print window will appear. 2. Select the desired print settings and then click [OK].

Tip: Set the print options to landscape mode (horizontal). You can also use your Web browser’s “Print Preview” feature to scale content to fit on a single printed page.

Caution: Federal law (FERPA) prohibits the release of any student’s personally identifiable information. Any printouts must be securely stored and then destroyed when no longer needed.

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Section IV. Administering Online Tests

This section contains information on how to start a test session, add tests to the session, verify students’ test settings, approve students for testing, and monitor their progress.

Warning: Check students’ information and test settings before test sessions!

Students who require test settings other than the default must have their settings updated in TIDE before testing begins. For information about test settings, including accommodations, refer to the Online Field Test Administration Manual and the Smarter Balanced Usability, Accessibility, and Accommodations Guidelines. Both documents are available on the Smarter Balanced portal. If you have a student whose test settings are incorrect, do not approve him or her for testing. Contact your School or District Test Coordinator (as appropriate) to have the student’s information updated in TIDE.

Starting a Test Session

You must create a test session before students can log in to the Student Testing Site. In order for a student to take a specific test, it must be included in your test session.

Caution: A test session automatically ends when you manually stop the session or log out of the TA Site. While a student can resume a test opportunity in a new session, the test session cannot be resumed. In order for students to resume testing, you will need to create a new test session and give them the new Session ID. Students cannot access previous (closed) test sessions.

Selecting Tests to Include in the Test Session

The test selection box is located in the upper left corner of the screen. Tests are automatically listed in order by grade level and then subject. You can select individual tests or select all tests.

About Test Names: Tests labeled “NonPT” are non-performance task tests. Tests labeled “PT” are performance task tests.

Figure 15. Test Selection Box

Note: All Smarter Balanced Field Tests are included on the test selection screen. Students are pre-assigned to selected field tests and therefore can take only those tests. For additional information regarding test selection and test administration, refer to Appendix B. Creating a Test Session ID and Making Test Selections.

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Starting a Test Session

1. Go to the test selection box under the [Start Session] button in the top panel.

2. Click the checkbox next to each test you need to administer in the test session OR click [Select All] to include all available tests.

 Once you have selected a test or all tests, the [Start Session] button will become active. 3. After selecting the test(s), click the [Start Session] button.

 The selected test(s) will be highlighted and grayed out.

 The [Stop Session] button will replace the [Start Session] button.

 The Session ID will be generated and appear below “Session ID.”

4. Provide the Session ID to your students. You may want to write this down clearly on a board or other place where all students can see it or provide it to the students along with their login information. Students must enter the Session ID exactly as it appears on the TA Site, including hyphens. The Session ID is not case sensitive.

Note: You may want to write down your Session ID in case you accidentally close your browser or need to transfer your session to another computer.

 For information about accidentally closing your browser, refer to Closing the Browser/ Unintentional Exit.

 For more information about transferring test sessions, refer to Appendix C, Transferring TA Test Sessions between Computers.

Adding Tests to the Test Session

If you did not select all tests, you may add tests to a session at any time. This may be necessary if one of your students sees the “Test not available in this session” message on his or her “Your Tests” screen during the login process. Please identify and select only those tests that you will administer during the current test session. This should avoid confusion about which test a student should be completing first if multiple tests are to be completed.

1. From the test selection box, click the checkbox next to the name of the test to be added to your session. (For security purposes, tests must be individually added to an active session.)

2. A pop-up window will ask you to confirm your selection (see image below). 3. Click [Yes] to add the selected test to your session.

Figure 16. Add Test to Session Confirmation Message

Note: While tests may be added to an active test session after it has started, they cannot be removed from the session.

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Viewing Students’ Test Settings and Approving Students for Testing

After you have started the test session and given the students the Session ID, they can begin the login process. (For additional information on the login and approval process from the student perspective, refer to Section VI, Taking Online Tests [Student View].)

You must approve students before they can begin testing. This process includes viewing each student’s test settings and verifying that they are correct.

Notification of Students Awaiting Approval (Approvals Preview)

The right side of the top panel contains the [Approvals (#)] section, which displays the number of students awaiting approval and a preview list of students’ names and tests.

Once students begin requesting entry in to your test session, the [Approvals (#)] preview table will become active. The table will display those students who are awaiting approval. You will see each student’s name and the test he or she selected.

Important: If your state has not populated the student name field in TIDE, then the Student Name column in the Students Awaiting Approval preview table will be blank. You will be able to view each student’s State-SSID after you click the [Approvals (#)] button. You can use that information to identify the students in your session before you approve them for testing.

Approvals Notification and Preview Table

Figure 17. No Students Awaiting Approval Figure 18. Students Awaiting Approval

 Approvals button is not clickable

 Approvals button says [Approvals (0)]

 Preview table says “No students awaiting approval”

 Approvals button is clickable

 Approvals button says [Approvals (#)]

 Preview table lists each student and his or her selected test

Viewing students awaiting approval:

1. Click the [Approvals (#)] button to access the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen. Warning: Check students’ information and test settings before test sessions!

Students who require test settings other than the default must have their settings updated in TIDE before testing begins. For information about test settings, refer to the Online Field Test

Administration Manual.

If you have a student whose test settings are incorrect, do not approve him or her for testing. Contact your School or District Test Coordinator to have the student’s information updated in TIDE.

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Viewing and Editing Students’ Test Settings

The Approvals and Student Test Settings screen displays each student who is awaiting approval for entry in to your session. You will see each student’s name, State-SSID, current opportunity for the selected test, whether the test settings are standard or custom, and the option to approve or deny each student.

Important: This screen does not automatically refresh. Therefore, students logging in to your session after you have already opened the Approvals Screen will not appear. To update the list of students awaiting approval, click the [Refresh] button in the top row of the Approvals Screen.

Figure 19. Approvals and Test Settings Screen

About the Student Name and State-SSID columns:

If your state has not populated the student name field in TIDE, then the Student Name column in the Approvals and Test Settings screen will be blank. Please use the State-SSID column to

determine which students have requested entry in to your session. You may refer to documentation from your state’s education agency as necessary.

About the Test Settings column:

 Students with Standard test settings are students whose test settings are set to default.

 Students with Custom test settings are those who have at least one test setting that is not the default. Test settings include color choices, a different print size than the default, text-to-speech, American Sign Language, Translation (Glossary), etc.

For additional information about test settings, refer to About Student Test Settings.

Viewing a student’s test settings:

 Click the [See/Edit Details] button for that student. The screen will change to show the student’s test information.

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27 Adjusting a Student’s Test Settings and Accommodations

Some of the student’s information on this screen is read-only. Students’ default test settings should be preset in TIDE by the District or School Test Coordinator (as appropriate). Some test settings are editable on this screen. For more information about editable test settings, refer to Table 4.

Figure 20. Approvals and Test Settings for Selected Student

Review each student’s information to ensure that he or she has the correct test setting options. If a student’s settings are incorrect, he or she should not test.

Warning: A student who is resuming a test will have the test settings that were established at the time the student began the test. If the settings are not correct when the student starts or resumes the test, the student’s test will need to be reset.

Changing/confirming a student’s settings:

1. For each editable test setting, select the correct option. 2. Confirm the test settings.

 Click [Set] to confirm the selected test settings and return to the list of students awaiting approval. You will still have to approve the student for testing.

 Click [Set & Approve] to confirm the selected test settings and approve the student for testing.

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Approving Students for Testing

After you have confirmed students’ test settings, you may return to the list of students awaiting approval. On this screen, you can approve individual students or approve all waiting students at once.

After all students in the list have been approved (or denied), whether individually or all at once, the Approvals Screen window will automatically close.

Figure 21. Approvals and Student Test Settings Screen

Approving students for testing:

 To approve individual students, click the green [



Approve] button for each student. The student will be approved and will also disappear from the list.

 To approve all students currently displayed in the list, click the [



Approve All Students] button at the top right. This will approve those students for testing.

Note: You may approve all students who appear in the list. However, subsequent students who log in to the test session after you have opened the Approvals Screen will still need to be approved.

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Denying Students Entry in to the Test Session

Although Test Administrators can approve all students at the same time, students must be individually denied entry in to the test session. TAs may deny students for one of the following reasons:

 The student is not supposed to enter the session.

 The student’s demographic information is incorrect.

 The student’s required test settings are incorrect.

Figure 22. Deny Student from Testing

To deny a student entry in to the test session:

1. On the Approvals screen, click [Deny] for that student.

2. In the pop-up window that appears, enter a brief reason for denying the student. 3. Click the green [



Deny] button.

The student will receive a message explaining the reason he or she was denied entry in to the session. The student will then be logged out and directed to the login page.

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About Student Test Settings

If a student’s default test settings have not been pre-set in TIDE, the student is automatically assigned the default for each test setting (for that respective test). It is important to note that the default settings can vary by test. Only the test settings available for that test will be displayed on the Approvals and Student Test Settings screen for that student.

Table 4 details the embedded test settings that can be assigned to a student’s test. The majority of these test settings are read only.

Warning: If a student requires a different test setting and you cannot change it in the TA Interface, the student should not test. The student’s test settings must be updated in TIDE before testing begins.

Table 4. Student Test Settings

Test Settings Options Descriptions and Notes

Language English (default) All tests are presented in English.

Students whose language is set to Spanish for math tests will view items in both English and Spanish (stacked translation). Test directions will also be translated into Spanish.

Students who require tests in braille should have the braille option selected.

Braille

Spanish (math) Includes the following Designated Supports: Translations (stacked) and Translated test directions American Sign

Language Do not show ASL videos (default) Allows students to view test content translated into ASL by a human signer. Show ASL videos

Closed

Captioning Off (default) The Closed Captioning accommodation will not be available for the Field Test; however, for students who would typically have received this accommodation, the Closed Captioning setting can still be selected in TIDE. For the Field Test only, selecting this setting will suppress the Listening portion of the ELA test. On

Color Contrast Black on White (default) By default, tests are presented with black text on a white background. Students who need a different combination of text and background should select the appropriate option.

Black on Rose

Medium Gray on Light Gray Yellow on Blue

Reverse Contrast

Masking Masking Not Available (default) Allows the blocking of content that is not of immediate need or that may be distracting to the student. Masking Available

Permissive

Mode Permissive Mode Disabled (default) Permissive mode should be enabled for students who require access to accessibility software in order to interact with the test (e.g., screen readers, magnifiers, etc.).

When permissive mode is disabled, the only application that can be open on the computer is the secure browser.

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Test Settings Options Descriptions and Notes

Print on

Demand None (default) Allows student to request printing of items and stimuli. _{Note: If a student requires items to be printed, and this} is not set, you must deny the student and contact the Smarter Balanced Help Desk at ETS. You must provide the Help Desk with the student’s state and SSID information as well as the reason for the request. Items

Stimuli

Items and Stimuli

Print Size Level 0 (No Zoom) = 1X (default) The print size the student should have when starting the practice test. The selected print size becomes the default for all items in that test.

 The default print size (Level 0—No Zoom) for all tests is 14 pt.

Level 1 = 1.5X Level 2 = 1.75X Level 3 = 2.5X Level 4 = 3X

Test Shell Standard (default) By default, all tests use the standard interface. This interface is compatible with all supported desktops and tablets.

The streamlined interface presents the test in an alternate, simplified format in which the items are displayed below the stimuli. All tool and navigation buttons are on the bottom of the screen.

Important: The streamlined interface is not intended to be tablet compatible.

Streamlined

Text-to-Speech No Text-to-Speech (default) Students with this test setting enabled may listen to the read-aloud of the items and/or stimuli in the

assessment.

Note: Text-to-Speech is not available in Spanish. Items (ELA)

Stimuli (ELA) Stimuli and Items (ELA and mathematics) Translation

(Glossary) English (default) Students can open a glossary to view terms presented on the test that may be unfamiliar to them. By design, all students can access the English glossary word list as a universal tool, unless this is disabled (“No Glossary”) or overridden by another language.

 If a combination glossary is selected (e.g., English and Arabic or English and Russian), then the student will have access to both.

 If a single glossary is selected (e.g., Mandarin), then the student will only have access to that glossary. The English glossary will not be available. Note: The English glossary is available for both ELA and mathematics tests. Translated glossaries are available for mathematics tests only.

Arabic Cantonese Filipino Korean Mandarin Punjabi Russian Spanish Ukrainian Vietnamese No Glossary

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Monitoring Students’ Testing Progress

After students have logged in and you have approved them to begin testing, the Students in Your Test Session table will display each student currently logged in to your session.

Figure 23. Students in Your Test Session Table

Note: If a student’s row is grayed out, that student is not actively testing. This occurs when the student’s test is paused or the student has completed and submitted the test.

The Students in Your Test Session table displays the following for each student in the test session. Table 5. Students in Your Test Session Column Descriptions

Column Description

Student Name The first and last name of the student in the session (if populated in TIDE). State-SSID This column displays the State-SSID associated with the student (in TIDE).

Opportunity # Each student’s record indicates the opportunity number for that student’s subject test. For the Smarter Balanced Field Test, each student has only one opportunity for each test. Test The name of the test the student is taking.

Test Settings Each student’s test will display one of the following settings:

 Standard Settings: Indicates that the default test settings are applied for this student’s test opportunity.

 Custom Settings: Indicates that one or more of the student’s test settings is different from the default settings.

The binoculars icon displayed in this column is clickable. Click the icon for a student to view his or her test settings.

Requests When a student requests a printout of a reading passage or other test material, a [Print] button will appear in this column. Click the [Print] button to review and authorize or deny the student’s request.

For more information about print requests, refer to the Print on Demand Tool section. Student Status This column lists the current status for each student in the test session.

 The numbers (#/#) listed after the status shows the student’s progress while he or she is taking the test. The first number is the number of items the student has answered. The second number is the total number of items that will be administered.

For descriptions of each possible status, refer to Student Statuses During Testing. Pause Test Click the [Pause] button to pause a student’s test. The student will be logged out.

Reminder: See the Pause Rules section for information on pause time limits and students’ ability to review previously answered items.

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33 Student Statuses During Testing

The following statuses appear in the student status column in the Students in Your Test Session table.

The following statuses are listed chronologically as displayed during the testing process. Table 6. Test Statuses that Appear Chronologically During Testing

Status Description

Approved The Test Administrator has approved the student for the session, but the student has not yet started or resumed the test.

Started (#/#) The student has started testing. The number (#/#) after this status indicates how many items the student has answered out of the total number of items on the test.

This number does not indicate which item or item page the student is actively viewing. Review The student has answered all items and is currently reviewing his or her answers before

submitting the test for scoring. Note: A test with a review status occurs only at the end of the test. A test is not “completed” until the student submits the test.

Completed The student has submitted the test. No additional action can be taken by the student. Scored The Test Delivery System has processed the student’s responses to items on the test.

Note: Student scores for the Field Test will not be provided.

Submitted The test has been submitted for quality assurance review and validation.

The following statuses may appear when a student is listed in the Students in Your Test Session table but is not actively answering items.

Table 7. Other Test Statuses Status Description

Denied The Test Administrator denied the student entry in to the session. If the student attempts to enter the session again, this status will change to “Pending” until the Test Administrator approves or denies the student.

Paused (#/#) The student’s test is currently paused. The following scenarios will result in a paused status:

 The student pauses his or her test by clicking the [Pause] button.

 The student has been idle longer than 20 minutes, and the test was paused.

 The Test Administrator pauses the student’s test.

 The Test Administrator stops the session.

 A technical problem with the student’s computer or browser has resulted in a loss of connection to the Test Delivery System.

The time listed with this status indicates how long the student’s test has been in the paused status.

Pending The student is awaiting Test Administrator approval for a new test opportunity. Suspended The student is awaiting Test Administrator approval to resume a test opportunity.

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34 Pausing a Student’s Test

Test Administrators can pause an individual student’s test using the Pause Test column in the Students in Your Test Session table.

Students whose tests are paused will be logged out and directed to the login page. If they want to reenter the session, they will have to log in and go through the approval process again. (If the session has been stopped, the student will have to obtain a new Session ID in order to resume testing.)

Figure 24. Students in Your Test Session Table

To pause an individual student’s test:

1. In the Pause Test column, click the [Pause] button for that student. 2. Click [Yes] to confirm that you want the student’s test to be paused.

Note: When a student’s test is paused, the status column will display how long the test has been paused (in minutes).

Students taking Non-PT tests who pause for more than 20 minutes will not be able to review previously answered items. For more information, see the Pause Rules section.

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Stopping a Test Session and Logging Out

Stopping the Test Session

Although students’ tests can be resumed, test sessions cannot be resumed. Stopping a session will end the session and automatically pause all students’ tests in that session. The students will be logged out automatically.

Figure 25. TA Site Banner Containing Stop Session Button

To stop the test session:

1. Click the [Stop Session] button in the upper left corner of the screen. An “Important!” box will appear, requesting verification to end the session and log students out.

2. Click [OK] to continue.

Reminder: Because test sessions cannot be resumed, you will need to create a new session if your session has been stopped. When you start a new session, give the new Session ID to your students so that they can log in and resume testing.

Exiting or Logging Out of the TA Interface

Users should exit or log out of the TA Interface only after stopping the test session. Regardless of when or how users log out or navigate away from the TA Interface, student data will NOT be lost.

Caution: As a security measure, TAs are automatically logged out after 20 minutes of user inactivity and student inactivity in the session, which will result in closing the test session.

Reminder: Students whose Non-PT tests are paused for more than 20 minutes will not be able to review previously answered items. For more information, see the Pause Rules section.

Closing the Browser/Unintentional Exit

If you accidentally close the browser while students are still testing, your session will remain open until it times out. You can open the browser and navigate back to the TA Interface. You will be prompted to enter your active Session ID. (For more information about transferring a session to another computer or logging back in to an active session, refer to Appendix C, Transferring TA Test Sessions Between Computers. You must know your current Session ID.)

 If you do not return to the TA Interface and reenter the active session within 20 minutes, you will be logged out, and all your students’ tests will be paused.

 In the case of an unintentional exit from the TA Interface caused by a system or computer error (such as the Web browser crashing or closing), a network or communication error, power loss, or other event, the 20-minute rule applies.

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Test Session Timeout/Automatic Logout

If you are automatically logged out, the status of your session will change to “closed” and all in-progress tests in the session will be paused. You will need to log back in to the TA Interface, start a new session, and provide the new Session ID to students who need to resume testing.

Logging Out

To log out of the TA Interface (and all other Smarter Balanced applications), click the [Log Out] button in the top right corner of the screen.

Your session will be closed, and you will be directed to the Smarter Balanced portal after you log out. You will not be able to resume the test session.

Alert: This scenario also occurs when the TA navigates to another site from the TA Interface. If you need to access TIDE or another application, we encourage you to open a separate browser window and use that window for other applications.

If you unintentionally log out of the TA Interface while students are still testing, all in-progress tests will be paused and the students will be logged out. You cannot resume the original session. You will need to log back in, start a new session, and provide the new Session ID to students who need to log back in and resume testing.

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Section V. Understanding the Student Testing Site

This section is designed to familiarize TAs with the Student Testing Site. It describes what students see and the tools they have access to while taking the field tests. This section should address some of the common questions TAs and students may have.

This section covers the following:

 Test layout

 Online test tools

Test Layout

This sample image shows the primary features and tools available to all students. Figure 26. Sample Item Page

Each test has two major sections:



Global Menu bar (contains global tools and navigation buttons, as well as system volume and student help buttons)



Test Content (displays test content, including stimuli, items, and associated tools)

o Some tools are available only by accessing a context menu for that passage or stimulus, item, or selected-response option. For more information, see the next page.

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Global and Context Menus

The Global and Context Menus allow students to access on-screen tools. These tools can be accessed using a mouse or keyboard shortcuts. On tablets, the context menus are accessed via a Menu button. For information about keyboard shortcuts, refer to Appendix E, Keyboard Commands for Students.

Global Menu

The Global Menu contains all the visible tools displayed at the top of the student’s test screen. Most universal tools are in the Global Menu, as well as the student help and system volume setting.

Figure 27. Sample Global Menu

Adjusting the System Volume

Students who are taking a test that contains audio or text-to-speech can adjust the volume within the test. (This feature is available only when using a desktop secure browser.)

Figure 28. Adjusting Volume Setting in the Test

1. Click the wheel icon in the upper right corner (next to the [?] help button). The System Settings window will open.

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39 Context Menus and Test Elements

Tools such as text-to-speech, highlighter, and strikethrough, are accessed using context menus. These context menus contain the options available for each area of a test item on a page. These areas are called elements.

Elements include passages or prompts, test items, and answer options (A, B, C, and D). Each answer option is a single element. Each element has its own context menu.

The Context Menu options vary depending on the following:

 The element type (passage or stimulus, item stem, or selected-response answer option)

 The tools available to students (e.g., only students using text-to-speech who are using the secure browser can use the TTS “Speak” options)

Figure 29. Overview of Elements for Selected-Response Items

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium: